Delaware gymnast returns from world championships with more medals, goals

Morgan Hurd had a different experience at this year's world championships.
William Bretzger, The News Journal

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Morgan Hurd signs autographs as she is welcomed back to First State Gymnastics in Newark Wednesday after collecting several medals at the world championships in Qatar.(Photo: WILLIAM BRETZGER, The News Journal)Buy Photo

Her profile is rising beyond Delaware, too. Hurd has more than 100,000 followers on social media and is one of the young artists, athletes and activists in singer Shawn Mendes and Khalid’s video for “Youth,” released earlier this week.

But in the long, boxy gym where she repeats skills for hours on end in what is essentially her full-time job, Hurd looks like any other teenager.

Except maybe for that smile.

Sitting in athletic wear on the side of a mat, her hair out of the bun she favors for competition, she watches other gymnasts practice on the bars. She’s playing on her phone as parents and coaches mill around, and young girls in leotards with chalky hands get ready for the celebratory reception with Hurd, who’s not much taller than them.

After a few moments to celebrate last week's successes, she will turn her energy to the biggest prize in gymnastics, the 2020 Olympic Games.

Secret of her success

Hurd has been a fixture at First State Gymnastics for years, or at least since getting serious about the sport in fifth or sixth grade, said her mom, Sherri Hurd.

That’s when she decided she wanted to be an elite gymnast and spend about seven hours at the gym every day. Sherri said they started homeschooling then, and have been taking everything one step at a time.

Longtime coach Slava Glazounov knew Morgan was capable before that. He knew it from day one.

“She was different, very little, very flexible, energetic, very bouncy,” he said. “ All the attributes of a good gymnast was exhibited in her from an early age.”

But it’s her work ethic that’s helped her move into the international elite.

“I don’t know if this is something that she’s born with, is this something in her family, but her willingness to work harder than anybody else is really what made her what she is,” he said.

Hurd earned a spot in last year’s world championships and surprised almost everyone – including Glazounov – by winning the gold in the individual all-around.

This year she came in third behind 2016 U.S. Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, who won her record-setting fourth gold in the event, and Japan’s Mai Murakami, who bested Hurd by just .066 of a point.

“Last year was new and shocking to all of us,” Glazounov said. “This year was a lot of pressure” that she put on herself, he said.

Last year’s championships didn’t have a team contest, so Hurd competed in individual events only. This year’s event did have a team competition – one that the U.S. dominated, finishing nearly 9 points ahead of silver medalists Russia.

The win secured Team USA a berth in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, although the gymnasts representing the U.S. won't be determined until shortly before the games.

“There were expectations from us, from the public, from the social media, from the national staff, she was a veteran in a way, so there was a high expectation to help the team to achieve the gold,” Glazounov said of Hurd's ability to handle the expectations of her. “But she handled it well and shehad fun this time. She was more focused, she was a little bit more relaxed.”

Hurd said competing as part of a team was a positive change from last year.

“It just brings a different energy because we’re all there and we’re competing as one. We’re not competing against each other... we’re competing with each other,” Hurd said. “Everyone’s cheering for each other, and it just gets you really excited to compete.”

Team USA with Morgan Hurd (left) reacts after teammate Simone Biles' floor exercise during the women's team final of the Gymnastics World Championships at the Aspire Dome in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018.(Photo: AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Hurd described her performance as “so much more confident” than last year’s, in part because she had that experience under her belt.

“I’m more sure of myself because I know what I’m capable of,” she said.

To get her ready for this year they worked on “cleaning up” her routines. Increasing her difficulty on bars. Sticking landings. Working on dance elements on floor.

epa07135569 Morgan Hurd of the USA competes on the floor during the Women's Individual All-Around final at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Doha, Qatar, 01 November 2018. EPA-EFE/NOUSHAD THEKKAYIL NOUSHAD THEKKAYIL, EPA-EFE

Simone Biles (right) and Morgan Hurd of the U.S. celebrate after winning gold and bronze, respectively, in the women's all-around final of the 2018 FIG Artistic Gymnastics Championships at the Aspire Dome on November 1, 2018 in Doha. KARIM JAAFAR, AFP/Getty Images

Gold medalist and four-time all-around world champion Simone Biles (left) and bronze medallist Morgan Hurd, both of the U.S., celebrate after the women's all-around final of the Gymnastics World Chamionships. Vadim Ghirda, AP

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But that’s what her coach said is her “dream goal,” and what they’re working toward.

Hurd has a deep field of competitors and the ever-present chance of injury to overcome to make it to Tokyo.

There’s also the uncertain future of USA Gymnastics, the sport’s beleaguered governing body. The fallout from former national team doctor Larry Nassar’s sexual assaults and the organization’s mishandling of it is still reverberating years after the first allegations came to light.

“Unfortunately for us, that situation with USAG has been going for a while already,” Glazounov said. “We’re kind of used to it.”

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Morgan Hurd signs autographs as she is welcomed back to First State Gymnastics in Newark Wednesday after collecting several medals at the world championships in Qatar.(Photo: WILLIAM BRETZGER, The News Journal)

So they focus on what they can control in the gym, he said. They work on being a good person first, and a gymnast second.

Sherri Hurd said that drama isn’t usually a topic of conversation at home. They leave the gym at the gym.

“As a mom, I try to keep home home, so that whatever stresses or whatever she has during the day, when she comes home it’s just regular home. Just laying on her bed, watching TV, whatever.”

At home, Morgan is just a regular teenager. One that will be able to drive alone soon.